Feed water heater



3 Shoots-Shoot 1 a I I,

ATTORNEX Sept. 8, 1931. E. SCHELLENS EI'AL FEED WATER HEATER Filed June 11, 1926 Sept. 8, 1931. a. L. SCHELLENS ET AL man WATER HEATER Filed June 11, 192 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEY$ Sept- 1931- E. L. SCHELLENS ET AL 1,322,459

FEED WATER HEATER Filed June 11, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ZINVENTOR$+ By W M;

wwkkm A TTORNE v6 Patented Sept. 8, 1931 vireo: STATES PATENT OFFICE EUGENE L. SCHELLENS, OF MILBURN, NEW JERSEY, AND CHRISTOII'IER A. SCHELLENS, OF MARBLEHEAD, EIASSACHU'SETTS, ASSIGIIORS '10 C-S ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEVJ JERSEY, A CGRPORATION OF DELAWARE FEED WATER HEATER Application filed June 11,

This invention relates to feed Water heater mechanism, and is particularly useful in connection with locomotives.

, One of the primary objects of the invention is to simplify the mechanism, While, at the same time, securing etliciency in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of the character described which is not liable to get out of order.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a feed Water heater in which the steam flow and Water flow to the heater are automatically controlled to maintain proper pressure conditions within the heater topermit of supplying the water in an efiicient manner.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide'in iproved means whereby, Whenever Water is being forced into the boiler, water is automatically supplied to the heater.

How the foregoing, together With such other objects as may hereinafter appear, or are incident to our invention, are realized, is illustrated in preferred form in the accom; panyi 11g drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a locomotive equipped with our improvements.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the feed Water heater proper drawn on an enlarged scale, and with certain of the parts appearing in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a modification of our invention.

Fig. 4 is a cross section through the feed water heater proper of Fig. 3 drawn on an enlarged scale, and taken substantially on the line l4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line'5-5 of Fig. 4, and Y Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary diagrammatic side elevations of other modifications of our invention.

Referring now to the drawings,-the reference character A indicates the feed Water heater proper, such heater being preferably located at a suitable point on the front end of the locomotive.

The heater is supplied 1926. Serial No. 115,225.

with water from the tender 7 through the i pipe line 8,the Water discharging into the steam space 9 of the feed water heater, pref erably over a suitable device 10 adapted to spray the incoming water. The feed water heater is preferably heated by exhaust steam taken from the steam chest of the locomotive by pipes 11 which discharge into the steam space 9 of the heater. A control valve mech anism, indicated as a Whole by the numeral 12,- and operated by the float 12a, is adapted to maintain a predetermined level of Water in the feed water heater, as will further appear.

Heated Water from the heater is supplied to the boiler through the boiler check 13 by means of the pipe 14, the pump 15, which is preferably of the centrifugal type, and the pipe 16. l/Viththe pump 15 in operation the level of the water inthe'teed water heater is lowered and the control valve mechanism 12 is operated to controlthe water and steam supply to the heater.

A small pipe 17 leads from the delivery pipe 16 to the Venturi-shaped portion 18 of the pipe 8. This Venturi-shaped portion 18 and the pipe 17 function as an injector and serve to lift Water from the tender to the feed water heater. Thus, as long as the pump is in operation, water isbeing continually lifted from the tender to the feedwater heater.

Another injector, such, for example, as the steam inj-ector'19, may be located in the line 8 for purposes of starting operations, or for supplementing the injector above described;

The control valve mechanism 12 comprisesa water valve a located in the pipe line 8, a steam valve 5, preferably of the butterfly type, located in the steam pipe 11, and suitable link and lever connections for interconnecting the valves a and b, operatedby the float 12a. The fi-oat 12a is carriedby the parallel levers 12b pivoted on the heater cas; ing, one of said levers being keyed to its pivot pin, to which pin is also keyed the lever or arm 120, said lever extending in opposite direction to the levers 126. A link 12d connects the lever 120 with the lever 12c pivoted through the medium of the link 12f on the casing of the Water valve a. The watervalvc a is connected to the lever 120. A link 12g connects the lever 120 with the lever 12k, in turn secured to the shaft of the steam valve 6. It will be noted that the points of connection between the various levers and links are adjustable, whereby the opening and closing of the water valve with respect to the opening and closing of the steam valve may be regulated.

In this connection, it is pointed out that the steam pressure in the tank varies within wide limits, and the upper limit is not known or determined. The maximum possible steam pressure is, of course, under the control of the engineer. As he opens the throttle suddenly, very high momentary steam pressures are obtained which have to be taken care of by the water injector.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, as the water level drops, the float 12a sinks, and the water valve a is opened to admit water to the heater, and continues to open as the water level is lowered until it reaches its full open position. As the water valve is thus being opened, the steam valve Z) is slowly closing by virtue of the particular leverage system employed. It is pointed out that the angular position of the steam valve Z) is such that its effective throttling action is only obtained as the water valve 0; approaches its substantially wide open position. Thus, it will be seen that should the water level drop faster than the water injector can make up, the steam valve is automatically throttled down, which reduces the pressure in the tank, and, consequently, the resistance against the water injector is decreased, and more water will flow into the tank than would otherwise be the case.

Obviously, if water is lifted into the feed water heater at too rapid a rate, the control valve mechanism 12 operates to close the water valve a and to open the steam valve Z) more widely.

A vent valve 20, preferably automatic, is provided at the upper portion of the feed water heater A, for the purpose of allowing any accumulation of air in the heater to escape, the presence of which would seriously impair its operation. This is necessarily small to avoid free communication between the tank and the atmosphere; otherwise no temperatures above 212 could be obtained.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that, as soon as the pump 15 is started, heated water is withdrawn from the heater and water from the tender is supplied thereto in a very simple and effective manner, and that such water may be efficiently supplied to the heater because of the maintaining of proper pressure conditions therein.

Referring now to the construction of Figs. 3, 4t and 5, we have illustrated therein a modification in which a float valve mechanism 127: is adapted to maintain the predetermined level of water in the feed water beater. The heated water from the heater is supplied to the boiler in the same manner as described. above. With the pump 15 in operation the level of the water in the heater is lowered and the valve mechanism 12k is operated to bring the two ports 12m and 1212. into comnmnication with each other. A small pipe l7a leads from the delivery pipe 16 to the port 12m, and a similar pipe 176 leads from the port 12a to the Venturi-shaped portion 18 of the pipe 8. IVhen, therefore, the valve mechanism has been shifted to bring the ports 12m and. 12% into communi:ation with one another, a portion of the water delivered by the pump lay-passes through the pipe 17a, and the ports 12m and 12a and the pipe 176, which serves to lift water. from the tender to the feed water heater by virtue of the injector action is obtained. It is to be observed that in operation the float valve will at times assume a position to open the port 12m wit e, and, at times, will close it completely, and, at other times, will assume intermediate positions.

Referring now to the construction of Fig. 6, instead of locating the valve mechanism within the feed water heater, we locate a valve 23 in the pipe 170, corresponding in function to the pipe 17'?) of the arrangement previously described. This valve is controlled by the float 24 within the heater so as to open as water is withdrawn from the heater. Exhaust steam is supplied to the heater by means of pipes 11a.

In the arrangement of Fig. 7, we provide a second and low pressure pump 26 mounted on the shaft of the pump 15. This pump 26 is adapted to pump water from the tender through the pipe 8 into the pipe 27 which discharges into the heater. The pipe 27 is controlled by the valve 28, in turn controlled by a float, such valve opening as water is being withdrawn from the heater and closing when the water level in the heater reaches a predetermined point. In order to prevent building up of excessive pressure by the pump 26, the valve 28 may open a by-pass 2866 at times when the water in the heater is at hi gh level and the pump is still in operation.

In all forms, the pipes 11 and 110/. are provided with check valves 25, and. the pipes 8 with check valves 25a, whereby, if, for ex ample, the locomotive is at rest, there will be no escape of steam into the chests or back to the tender through the pipe 8, as would otherwise follow because of the flashing of the water in the feed water heater into steam on re duction in pressure.

What we claim is 1. In a feed water heater system for boilers, a heater and a source of water supply, means for delivering steam to the heater, a boiler supply pumping means delivering from heater to boiler, and a heater supply pumping means, one of said pumping means being actuated by pressure of the water discharge of the other.

2. In a feed water heater system for boilers, a heater and a source of water supply, means for delivering steam to the heater, a boiler supply pumping means delivering from heater to boiler, and a heater supply pumping means, one of said pumping means being actuated by pressure of the water discharge of the other, together with means operable by the heater water level for controlling the supply of Water to the heater.

3. In a feed water heater system for boilers, a heater and a source of water supply, means for delivering steam to the heater, a. boiler supply pumping means delivering from heater to boiler, and a heater supply pumping means, one of said pumping means being actuated by pressure of the water discharge of the other, together with means operable by the heater water level for controlling the steam delivery to the heater.

4. In a feed water heater system for boilers, a heater and a source of water supply, means for delivering steam to the heater, a boiler supply pumping means delivering from heater to boiler, and a heater supply pumping means, one of said pumping means be ing actuated by pressure of the Water discharge of the other, together with means operable by the heater Water level for controlling the steam delivery to the heater and the supply of water to the heater.

5. In a feed water heater system for boilers, a heater and a source of Water supply, means for delivering steam to the heater, a boiler supply pumping means delivering from heater to boiler, and a heater supply pumping means, one of said pumping means being a centrifugal pump having a substantially even water discharge flow, and the other of said pumping means acting under the influence of said water discharge.

6. In a direct contact feed water heater system, a boiler, a source of water supply, a direct contact feed Water heater, a boiler supply pumping means for pumping Water from heater to boiler, and a heater supply pumping means, said heater supply pumping means being driven by discharge of the water from said boiler supply pumping means.

7. In combination with a boiler and source of water supply, an open feed water heater, a pump for delivering water from said heater to said boiler, means for forcing water from said source of water supply into said heater, said means being driven by delivery pressure of the water from said pump.

8. In a feed watersystem, a boiler, a source of water supply, an open heater, a centrifugal pump for pumping water in a non-pulsating flow from said heater into said boiler and. means for pumping water from said source of water supply intosaid heater, said means deriving its energy from the non-pulsating flow of the waterdischargedby said pump. I,

9. In combination with a boiler and source of water supply, a directcontaet feed water heater, a pump for delivering water from the heater to the boiler, and means whereby a portion of the water delivered by the pump isutilized to supply the heater with water from said source.

10. In combination with a boiler and source of water supply, a feed water heater, a pump for delivering water from the heater to the boiler, and means automatically operating by discharge pressure of the water from the pump to supply the heater with water from said source, together with means controlled by the Water level in the heater for regulating said automatic means.

11. In combination with a boiler and source of Water supply, a direct contact feed water heater, a pump for delivering water from the heater to the boiler, and

means automatically operated by the discharge water from said pump to supply the heater with water from said source.

12. In combination with a boiler and source of Water supply, a feed water heater,

a pipe fromthe source of supply to the heater having a jet pipe therein, a pump, a pipe from the heater to the pump, a pipe from the pump to the boiler, and a branch from said last pipe to the supply pipe jet pipe, together with a supplemental live-steamactuated injector means in said supply pipe between the source of supply and the jet pipe.

13. In combination with a boiler and source of water supply, a feed water heater, a pump for delivering water from the heater to the boiler, and injector means automatically operating by discharge pressure of the water from the pump to supply the heater with water from said source.

14. In combination with a boiler and source of water supply, a feed water heater, a pipe from the source of supply to the heater, a jet nozzle in said pipe, a pump, a pipe from the heater to the pump, a pipe from the pump to the boiler, and a branch from said last pipe to the nozzle in said supply pipe.

15. In combination with a boiler and source of water supply, a feed water heater, a pipe from the source of supply to the heater, a jet nozzle in said pipe, a pump, a pipe from the heater to the pump, a pipe from the pump tothe boiler, and a branch from said last pipe to the nozzle in said supply pipe, together with valve means controlling 1 from said source of supply, means for supplying Water from the heater to the boiler,

means for supplying steam to the heater, a

valve for controlling the Water supply to the heater, a valve for controlling the steam supply, said valves being interconnected to act oppositely, and means associated With said valves operating as the level of Water in the heater changes to actuate said valves.

17. I11 combination with a 'boiler and source of Water supply, an open type heater, means for delivering Water to the heater from said source of supply, means for supplying Water from the heater to the boiler, means for supplying steam to the heater, a valve for controlling the Water supply to the heater, a valve for controlling the steam supply, means for interconnecting said valves arranged to throttle the steam supply means as the Water valve approaches its full open position and to move the steam valve to full open position as the Water valve is closed.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto signed our names.

EUGENE L. SCHELLENS. CHRISTOPHER A. SCHELLENS. 

